People in Hingham have long been aware of the need for alternative energy sources as witness the following, unfortunately undated, REACH document which goes back to 1979 when Pat Granahan founded Responsible Energy Alternatives Coalition of Hingham. With a small group of energy-conscious individuals, she tried to make people aware of the need for conservation and the wise use of energy as well as the need to identify and research alternative energy sources. The REACH document quoted below documents the goals of REACH almost thirty years ago, which goals parallel objectives being addressed today by Hingham Wind and the Hingham Energy Committee.

REACH, still a vigorous and active organization with constantly increasing new membership, has become one with Hingham Wind, a group of people championing the siting of wind turbines in Hingham. Hingham Wind, which came into being in 2006, works closely with the Hingham Municipal Light Plant and the Hingham Light Board and has representation on the Hingham Energy Committee.

Responsible Energy Alternatives Coalition of Hingham (REACH)

REACH, a group of Hingham residents concerned about the energy future of the community, recognizes that the energy problems we face are real; we must rise to meet the challenge. Each of us must have a role in planning for his or her own and for Hingham’s energy future.

REACH has the additional goal of seeing that everyone is able to make informed choices. First, we must familiarize ourselves with the complex issues and the facts. It is of utmost importance that we be capable of responsible decisions. To fulfill the goal of providing information, we will bring experts in energy fields to Hingham so that we can get answers to our questions

REACH is involved with many aspects of Hingham’s energy needs. We wish to encourage and initiate development of all feasible alternative energy sources, present and future, including solar and wind technologies, hydropower and cogeneration; also, the burning of trash, wood, and other forms of biomass as fuel. Most important, we must immediately consider conservation as an available resource. Conservation is the most economical and practical energy resource we can find.

REACH has been actively opposing the Seabrook venture as a poor financial risk for the town. In addition, the nuclear industry is beset by many problems which remain unsolved, most notably the dangerous waste-disposal dilemma. We feel it is our responsibility to raise the doubts concerning economic, political and safety aspects of nuclear fission power in its present form.

REACH is eager for increased and varied research and development in the energy field. We will work with individuals, organizations, boards, and community leaders towards mutual goals. We must examine all possibilities in search of rational and safe alternatives to solve our energy problems. In so doing, we must recognize that decisions made today must be considerate of generations to come who must live with the consequences of our decisions. (In the best New England tradition, let us not be penny-wise and pound-foolish).

REACH is not affiliated with any other organization, regional or national. We invite other Hingham or South Shore residents to join us.
(Hingham, 1979)

Pat Granahan's Presentation to the Selectmen at their
October 2006 Meeting

In 1983-86, when I served as commissioner on the Hingham Municipal Light Board, I asked the MA Executive Office of Energy Resources to do a study on efficiency and renewable energy for the Light Plant – which included load management and wind generation. The EOER determined that Turkey Hill was a suitable location for testing wind velocity with the hope that data would support the erection of a wind turbine on Turkey Hill. Joe Saponaro, who owned a riding stable on Turkey Hill, gave us permission to site an anemometer on his property. Supporting data, however, did not find sufficient wind velocity to warrant further action.

Not much happened in the intervening years. About five years ago, when it was quite obvious that wind power was indeed cost effective and energy efficient, I talked with a Hull light commissioner about taking another look at the Hingham project. He said that technology had improved so much that it would be a good idea to reevaluate. Members of REACH (Responsible Energy Alternatives of Hingham, which I founded in the ‘70s) were eager to participate in a presentation to the Light Board. The Light Board appointed us an ad hoc committee to investigate the possibility of wind generation for Hingham

We contacted the MA Technological Collaborative. Even though Hingham is a municipal, they offered their help. After deregulation, private utilities paid into a fund that makes them eligible, but municipals do not pay into the fund and therefore are not eligible. We were on our own, we were told, and we must come up with the sites. Our groups studied wind and topographical maps and physically visited all sites and then submitted our findings to the Collaborative. Sally Wright and Tony Ellis from UMass Amherst, the Collaborative, came to Hingham for a day: Light Board Manager Chris Cox, Sally Wright, Tony Ellis, and I visited each of the sites. Subsequently, we were granted an anemometer, to be erected by UMass, at their expense, at a suitable site.

Adverse factors converged at that time to put the project on hold: Changes in Light Plant management, unenthusiastic feedback on some of the sites, and my own personal health problems.

Enter two enthusiastic women, Pam Harty and Sandy Allen, who approached me several months ago to talk about reviving the prospect of wind generation for Hingham. We now have a committee, composed of excited members, whose membership is growing with each successive meeting. We are eager to proceed with the possibility of wind generation. We are looking for guidance from the Town of Hingham. We would like to be a subcommittee of the larger Hingham Energy Committee. We are ready. We are gathering data. We are committed to work positively with the town and its administrators.

Lead on!